Sump Baffles & Sections Question.

[UpsideDownFishy]

So I am in the market for a new sump for my setup and I had a silly thought. Obviously you can get a custom sump with different sections and baffles for various areas. But is it really necessary and are the benefits worth the extra cost? Besides the obvious trapping bubbles and preventing them from re-entering the display tank or possibley increasing exposures time to a skimmer or whatnot? Any thoughts?

[scarson61]

I usually just make three sections, 1) skimmer and water from tank, 2) refugium/filters, 3) return pump & top off. Using two baffles cut the same height I don't find the need to have bubble traps because the water height does not change and create turbulence and bubbles. I find them necessary to keep water height stable for skimmer and I usually use 2nd chamber for cryptic zone/live rock and I don't want them exposed to air, and the return pump area is the only place that has a change in water level but kept to a minimum because of the top off. Hope this answers some questions.